The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
It was a convincing statement made by 4-year-old pacer Northern Companion, that he is the most impressive older pacer in Florida at this time as he romped in the $8,500 purse Isle Mile Open Handicap Pace highlighting the Saturday evening, June 2 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. Waldy Jimmy flashed his usual turn of gate speed for driver Dan Clements to post the first half speed of 27.1 and 57.3. Turning into the backstretch for the final time and sitting last in the field of five starters, driver Robert Hoffman rallied Northern Companion for clear sailing and he bolted up on the outside to join Waldy Jimmy for the lead at the final turn in 1:25.4. In the stretch, Northern Companion drew away under wraps with a 27.1 kicker in the 1:53 score. State bred 3-year-old Keemosabe brushed in impressively for second with Bruce Ranger in the bike and Waldy Jimmy held third. Howard Klohr trains Northern Companion for owner Dorothy Zarza of Lake Worth, FL. The Cambest-Smoke It Out gelding has amassed 8 wins in 17 trips this year for almost $30,000 in season’s earnings.

Vernon Downs
Diamond Stick Pin re-established himself as pacing King-of-the-Hill following his narrow victory over newcomer Melvyn in Saturday night’s $9,500 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs. Two-time defending Downs driving champ Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Jessica Okusko in the week’s Open contest as Diamond Stick Pin ($5.70) drafted immediately behind the pace-setting Poker Hat until the half, timed in :55.2. After Melvyn came a callin’ from fifth to take the lead entering the final furlong, Diamond Stick Pin shook loose from the pocket and closed like a gate in the wind to snare a nose triumph in 1:51.1, equaling his career-best win mark. The fast-closing finish was his third in Open competition at the 17-program meeting, his fourth in 11 current outings and the 23rd all-time for the 6-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight-Silksndiamonds, who is shared in ownership by Wanda Polisseni’s Purple Haze Stables, Conrad Zurich and Edwin J. Gold. The career winner of $438,933 hasn’t finished worse than second in five starts at the meet dating back to April 28.

Scioto Downs
Driver Trent Tharps took advantage of having post position one with Chip OF Art in the Saturday night feature at Scioto, and they led all the way to win in 1:53. The 4-year-old gelded son of Art’s Chip was sent off at odds of 6-1 and returned a $14.80 win payoff for a $2 bet. His winning margin was 1-1/4 lengths. Chip Of Art was pressured in the opening quarter by Doc’s Yankee, the even-money favorite, but when Doc’s Yankee couldn’t get to the front, driver Chris Page put him in behind the leader and second-place Lima Ritch. After a blistering opening quarter in :26.2, Tharps eased the pace to :56 seconds at the half-mile marker. The tempo picked up during a third quarter in :28 seconds and thereafter no one could catch the leader. Doc’s Yankee failed to stay with him in the stretch and the 16-1 shot Big Bad TJ got up for second money while Doc’s Yankee held for third.
Chip Of Art is owned by David Stanley and Douglas Ross, both of Ohio. It was his fourth win in nine starts this season and the time was a new lifetime mark. He is trained by veteran Charles Ross.

Cal-Expo
Winners-Over pacers, racing for a purse of $6,800, were featured at Cal Expo on Saturday night (June 2), on which Haggin Oaks, the lone lady in the race, won for the 25th time in her fine career. Owned by Shari Burns, Ferris Funk & Jerry Cimini, Haggin Oaks won ($15.80) by a diminishing nose, in 1:56.1. Albion had to settle for second, and an improving Split Ticket finished another 6-3/4 lengths farther back, in third.

Buffalo Raceway
Cole Hard Cash, a 6-year old Cole Muffler gelding out of the Life Sign mare Sacred, won the $10,000 Open Pace in 1:54, over a fast track, for owners, Limerick Racing of Hamburg, NY, here at Buffalo Raceway Saturday night (June 2). It was the sixth win this season for Cole Hard Cash, who has been in the money in twelve out of twenty races this year. Cole Hard Cash ($21.00), dismissed by the bettors at 9-1 and leaving from post seven in the field of eight, settled in seventh with regular driver Dave McNeight III, in the sulky. Twotowin (John Cummings, Jr.) cut all the fractions in the race, :27.2, :56.1, and 1:25.2. McNeight and Cold Hard Cash made a three-wide backstretch move and circled the leaders just past the three-quarter pole. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Cold Hard cash had already built a three length lead, which widened to 4-3/4 lengths over second place finisher Spender Hanover (Jack Flanigen) at the finish line. Mark It On Ice (Kevin Cummings) finished third. Trained by Dave McNeight, Jr., the $5,000 share of the winning purse put Cold Hard Cash’s season bankroll at $33,756, and $173,046 lifetime.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
El Ringer did on Saturday night just what he did last week at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 6-year-old pacer faced the task of defeating invader He’s Gorgeous for the second consecutive week. The task was daunting as just two weeks ago, He’s Gorgeous set the Vernon Downs all time track record with an eye-popping 1:48.3 score. In last week’s $18,500 open at the Spa, El Ringer (Artsplace) sat in the pocket behind the favorite and went by him for a 1:52.1 win. This week, again with He’s Gorgeous on the lead, El Ringer came from off the pace and followed cover before charging up to take the evening’s open pace in 1:53.1. It was the third straight victory for the Margaret Spagnola trained pacer and fourth in the last five starts. El Ringer returned $14.00 to win while longshot Lahaye (Billy Dobson) came on for second and Majo Just Do It (Mark Beckwith) ran third.